CHAPTER 4: A FRIENDLY TALK

I was liking New York. Martha flew in the next day. Said dad asked her to, but I knew better. She missed me. I told her about my first day and she made fun of me. She was excited I made friends. A few days had passed since the cafeteria incident. So after I publicly called out Damien as a psycho, I ran. He was being way too scary. He got up from his seat and started taking long strides toward me. So, I ran. I Couldn't take any chances. Then I called an Uber home. That was enough drama for a lifetime. Lue texted me in the evening. She said Damien was really mad, and " I was savage" she commended me. I couldn't understand her excitement. How can calling out the most famous guy in school be something to be happy about? I swear this girl was something. I was hanging out with Nate and Lue. My routine consisted of Sam driving me to school, getting to class first and taking a front seat, having lunch with Lue and Nate, and having to hide every so often whenever I see Damien or Saint. I was not ruling any of them out, they were both creeps. Even wore a detective black jacket the following Tuesday after the incident. Nate couldn't stop making silly jokes. I just couldn't risk it. What if they decide to kidnap me? kill me and bury me off somewhere no one would find me? My poor dad would be heartbroken. Lue hated that I always sat in front, but I think I was growing on her. She convinced me to sign up for model UN since I needed an extracurricular, and she was already in the club. But in all, one thing bothered me. I was worried lue and Nate were not speaking with their old gang anymore. I asked them about it, they said it was alright. It still didn't sit well with me. All the drama made me miss Arthur so much.

Thursdays were rough. It was the realization of how close the end of the school week was. We had PE for the last period. I was making silly jokes with Lue running our last lap. It seemed Mr. Morales had given up trying to get the girls on the track. The boys were running it like hounds trying to impress...but I was not. I was more than grateful that school would end soon. Nate was on the soccer team and they were practicing early today. They had a 'friendly' match with Margaret's Hollow High. That was just a cover and in reality, they had this huge rivalry going on. And so, they 'needed to win next week's game to prove a point'. Nate's words. "babes careful now, don't think that pretty head of yours can take a hit" that was Lue warning me about the ball that had just gone over our heads. I giggled thinking of how funny she sounded. "I think it was clear off us, plus I'm not so fragile I can't take a punch," I said to Lue still giggling. "you sure Asia? cause I'm pretty sure he was trying to kill you." She replied gesturing toward the pitch. What the hell? I didn't have time to think Damien was trekking toward us. In his sweaty training vest and he looked angry, So I run. "hey, where are you going?!" Lue shouted but I couldn't reply. I had been so careful. How? Of course, he was on the soccer team. I just kept running. The safest place was the training grounds bathroom. I entered and quickly locked it from the inside. I needed to catch my breath. I crotched down trying to steady my breathing. My pants were all over the place. "What have you been doing?" I raised my head and found my eyes locked with those deep grey ones. He had never spoken to me before. And there was a girl with him. It was Ankhe from my AP physics class. Oh, my crusts! they were making out. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I thought no one was here." I started blabbering. He immediately replied making me scream inwardly but stared dumbly at them "It's alright, you're not interrupting anything. Ankhe leave." The girl rushed out of there glaring at me. "I didn't know it was occupied. I'm gonna go-" I got cut off mid-sentence "Nah, you're not going anywhere. This is the girls' bathroom after all. So do tell, why are you here Asia?" He had a smug look on his face. He thought he had me cornered. "I can ask you the same thing, Saint. Why are you here? The boys are having practice on the field. This is the girls' bathroom after all." I quickly countered cocking my eye. Yeah, I was acting smart. I had to let him know I wasn't intimidated. My dad was a friggin cabinet Secretary for the love of crusts. But he was really good-looking, damn he was gorgeous. Sad though, why do the nice ones always gotta be nut heads? "Well, my guess is you're running away...from Dami. You really pissed him off. "I defended rashly "we'll he just tried to hit me with a ball just now." Why was he doing that slow walk thing toward me? Like in thriller movies? "And don't take another step. If you try anything, I'm gonna tell the whole school you and your girlfriend were in here making out." He just gave a light chuckle to my threat and said "Ankhe is not my girlfriend. And if you did tell, darling I don't care." So she's not? then why were they here? Ankhe looked flustered when I came in. He kept walking toward me. This was it. I genuinely thought he was gonna hurt me. And my heart started pounding. My palms got sweaty. Oh crusts, I hated sweat. I was suddenly scared and the whole thing just cringed me out. "I'll tell my dad. He's..." I was stuttering. This was not good. I dug my fingers into my palms as I felt sweat trickle from the back of my ear down my neck. "He's what? Rich? Fucking look around you Asia, you're in Ambrose. No one cares." surprisingly, his voice was low and that did a lot to calm me. He then turned from me to the door unlocking it. And held the knob as he said "Piece of advice Asia, don't run again and apologize to him." What was this guy saying? So without reluctance, I asked "You think he'll listen and not kill me?" but he just sized me up and answered, "With you, he just might not." I was bewildered and a little disappointed Saint did not disclaim that his friend truly is a psychopath. But there was a glimmer of hope in what Saint said. So I had to ask the one question hurdling above all "You're not angry with me?" He's his best friend after all. "Nah you're stupid and Damien is my best friend." That's it? Bunch of weirdos. He finally pulled at the knob and said "Good luck and take care."I had just blinked for the next second when he poked his head back and continued "One last thing hun, stay away from Nate" And then he just shut the door. From there, my head started doing some heavy calculations of its own. What did Nate have to do with all this? I walked to one of the faucets and turned on the tap. I started throwing water on my face. I need to think of what next to do. Of course, I didn't want to fight. Of course, I wanted my last year of high school to be dope. And so the was only one thing to do, and I did it.

"You sure about this Asia?" Lue asked for the fourth time. I had started to doubt my decision. "yes I am. Everything's going to be ok." I replied feeling less optimistic than earlier. When I told Lue about my plan to apologize to Damien after gym class, she wasn't the most excited. She wanted to leave after we hit the showers. It took a lot of convincing to get her to wait with me for the soccer team to finish practice. I had to text Sam not to come to pick me up. It was still weird between us. "They're done." We stepped down from the bleachers and caught up with the sweaty bunch of teenage boys heading for the locker room. "hey Damien, can we talk to you for a second?" Lue approached him and asked while I waited on the lawn. I raised my shy head and made eye contact. He didn't look as mad. He was quite relaxed. And he looked really good. He was a pretty boy. Saint was with him as always, but he just smirked at me and left. Damien looked between Lue and me before answering. "Yeah. Meet me in the parking lot in 15." Lue nodded and he left. When I told lue about apologizing to Damien I was sure about it, but I wasn't as much anymore. Nate walked up to us with a questioning look. "ask your girl." Lue told Nate cocking her left eyebrow at me. I just stared pleading with my eyes. I didn't want to talk about it with Nate. he'd make me doubt myself again and I didn't want that. I needed to get this done and over with. "let's talk later." I simply said" he responded 'ok' and just waved bye at us and left. I think he's angry. Lue and I walked to the parking lot to her car. She had been silent after I told her my plan. "you think he'll listen." I asked to break the silence. "knowing Damien, I can't answer that." she paused for a few seconds, "he's my friend and I like him, sort of. But he can be a real Jerk sometimes." she said and then turned her head to look right ahead. "Don't worry Lue. I'm just going to say sorry. He has nothing on me." I answered trying to create a much more lively atmosphere, but what lue said next got me mute. "I've seen how you look at him. like... all the other girls. but if you say so..." then she sighed. I swallowed the lump of liquid gathered in my throat. I didn't speak again. We just waited in silence. There was a sound of a car honking which freed me from the awkwardness. We turned towards it and found Damien in it. We walked over and I mentally prepared my speech. I hoped he wouldn't make it weird. I stood at the driver's side where he sat. The door was ajar and I took it as a sign to start. I brought my hand to my face and used my nail to remove the strands of hair falling on the side. Martha did great with the manicure. I thought. What is wrong with you? focus Asia."Damien, I-" I couldn't finish because he just cut me off. "get in. We'll talk on the way." His voice sounded cold and commanding. "No. I'm driving her home." Damien and Lue just stared at each other. It was a little intense. "Yeah. Lue's giving me a ride. You don't have to." I quickly chipped in trying to calm things, but Damien continued to stare and said "I'm not going to say it again." Lue tore her eyes away breaking up whatever was going on. She was a bit shaken. She looked at me and then back at Damien and spat "fuck you Damien." and with that, she walked away. Damien just grinned. I stood there not sure what to do. My friend who was supposed to give me a ride just stormed off angrily. I'm left alone with a creep who might be a serial killer. He said nothing from there and just shut the door. He started the car, and I run over to the other side and sat in. The a.c. was on making me feel cold. And the interior of the car was fancy and black. I took a good look at everything, and it was all black. Damn even the car was black. We drove off campus and he still said nothing to me. Maybe he enjoyed his privacy. But he didn't know my house. And I still need to say sorry so...he could enjoy his privacy later. "I wanted to apologize. I'm sorry for calling you a psycho-" He pressed on something and the car sped up moving faster. My heart jumped out of my body. I was scared. His hand gripped the wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. I was glad I had the seat belt on. Arthur never drove like this. He was trying to kill me. "I said I'm sorry." I could barely able to hear myself over the sound of the speed. "Damien please." I yelled thinking of calling out for help at that point. The car came to an abrupt stop. I closed my eyes thinking the worst. I took in a deep breath. I had to relax and keep my head clear of this guy. I opened my eyes and turned to him. "look, Damien, I'm sorry about what happened. I can't keep running any time I see you. I just moved here and I can't have the last year of school go down like this." My voice grew weak and my eyes teared up. "Don't ever do it again. Don't disobey me again. And I forgive you." he sounded a bit demanding. "sorry. disobeyed?" what are you saying? Was I being paranoid? "Back at the parking lot...you gave room for Lue to talk back to me." So, that's what he's talking about? I still thought 'disobey' was a big word. So I was supposed to obey him? Thinking about it, I got mad but I was in his car I couldn't afford to get angry. "OK" He started the ignition and pulled into the road. "Uhm my address-" I got cut off again. This was the third time. "Not another word." he simply said without looking at me. The drive was silent from there. He didn't even spare me a glance. I, on the other hand, would stare and quit only when I realise I was ogling too much. His arched eyebrows to his long lashes and his green eyes, damn he was pretty. I was worried though, he might drive in circles figuring out my house. He put my worries to sleep when he pulled into my driveway. "Thank you for bringing me home." He only nodded and asked for my phone. "Give me your phone." Why? he gave it back some seconds later and I saw he had saved his contact. "I have yours. Don't be stupid again." like what? but I nodded like a little child. "I'm gonna go." I got out and took a few steps and he hadn't left. I turned and he was there looking at me. I did a little wave and walked inside. I heard him drive off. I was a bit excited. I opened the front door and was faced with Martha. "who was he? Spill." she was smiling and wiggling her eyebrows at me "there's nothing to 'spill', and I'm exhausted." she was being extra weird, and truly there was nothing to tell. But Martha was not having it "You're coming home at 5:30. I know you are tired, but what got you tired?" she was unto me. "Oh Christ Martha, for the love of crusts. We're not having this talk." I was being impulsively defensive. And I changed the topic. "What did you make?" and Thank God she let me "pasta. I know you are hungry mi Amor. Come eat." she said and lead me to the kitchen.

I was lying on my bed thinking of why he hadn't texted me yet. Maybe his phone was off? or he was charging it perhaps. It probably got stolen. I decided to call him. I'd pretend I was just checking up on him. I was being needy I know. I didn't care And I'll just start a conversation naturally I thought to myself. He was on another call. I was relieved his phone was not off. I just had to wait a few minutes and then he would call back or I'd try again. Lue called two minutes later. We talked about what happened in the parking lot. I lied about the ride home too. "hun you sure? cause I was getting a different vibe "oh wait. I had a wild thought but it could be possible and so I asked. "you two dated or something?" But lue immediately replied putting me at ease. "Ew. No. Why would you think that? Get that out of your head." Her words made me rethink but something felt off. "And we're having lunch with the clique tomorrow." Lue added "wow! really?" I was quick to exclaim which made Lue question me. "Why are you so excited? you don't even know them.?" I was quick to counter "I'm just excited you guys are ok." I couldn't have her think the excitement was over a 'certain' someone. She replied nonchalantly "Sure. whatever." then continued. "there's going to be a party in the evening. We're going obviously. I was thinking we go to your place to get ready for it?" she sounded happy about it. "yeah that's great" I replied hoping I matched her excitement level. "it's going to be lit" Lue said giggling. "bye babes" she added "kk. See you tomorrow." I hung up and dialed Damien's number again. He didn't pick up. Three times the charm right? So I tried again and his phone was switched off. Was he ignoring me? it was on purpose. He was ignoring me. He didn't want to talk to me. I was so stupid for thinking he did. Well, Lunch time was going to be hell tomorrow.